Center-of-gravity-shifting device for submarine boats.



E. B. REILLY CENTER OF GRAVITY SHIFTING DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1916.

Patenged Oct. 23, 1917.

* invrrnn serene meme when ,EDWARD B, REILLY, OE ATLANTIC CITY, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR, OF FOUR-FIFTHS TO HARRY B. YOUNG, OFATLANTIG CITY, NEWJERSEY.

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Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented ea. as, rare.

Application filed May 6, 1916. Serial No. 95,843.:

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. REILLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of l? eJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Center-ofGravity Shifting Devices for Submarine Boats, of'which the following isa specification. I

This invention relates to submarines having a hull provided with a flatupper surface extending forwardly and downwardly from the conning towerto the stem and a transversely curved lower surface, the boat beingprovided with means for shifting the center of gravity to vary thevertical component of the water resistance on the front of the boat andthus control its vertical movements. Y Y

The upper surface is flat from the conning tower to the bow, extendingfrom its widest point forward and downwardly at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the boat. At the higher velocities the ballast isnot shifted so much as at the lower velocities. I attain this withoutthe use of rudders or any other form of external attachments, thusleaving the outside of the hull of the boat smooth and presenting noobstructions to its progress or for contact with rocks or anything elsethat might be in its course.

The shifting of the boats center of gravity may be accomplished in avariety of ways by the concentration of any weight at any one particularspot along the length of the boat, and its velocity is controlled bywhatever means of propulsion with which it may be provided.

It is to be understood that my present invention does not pertain to theshifting of the center of gravity for the purpose of making the boatride the surface at greater speed or holding the boat in a betterposition for speed while it is submerged. I change my center of gravityfor the purpose of altering the resistance of the water upon the hull ofthe boat and am thereby enabled to rise or sink to any desired depth.

I dispense with water tanks heretofore employed, as well as thenecessity of filling or emptying such tanks and rising devices, andemploy a stable ballast readily controlled andvheld at any desired spotso as to change the center of gravity as occasion may require and tohold the same when once fixed until necessity arises for changing it.

Qther objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of asubmarine boat equipped with my present improvement, a portion beingbroken away and parts shown in. section.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, as on theline 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the carriage for containingthe weight or ballast.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the differentviews.

Referring to the drawings, I

1 designates the hull of the boat which may or may not be provided witha conning tower. Forward of the elevated portionQ which would containthe tower 'ifone were employed, there is a member 3 having a flatsurface 4' which may constitute a deck, the, forward end of this memberbeing curved downwardly and forwardly, as seen at 5, andjthe oppositesides concaved, as seen at 6,6, in Fig. 2. Forward of this member 3, theupper suriace of the hull is broadened and flattened, as seen at 7,'theopposite sides thereof tapering, as seen at 8, to the point 9 and thenceformed upon another incline, as

seen at 10, which merges into the incline 9,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus I have no lateral projections such asvanes or blades or the like extended beyond the outer surface of thehull or shell which is thus left perfectly smooth and Withoutobstruction, as seen'in Fig. 2.

The stern of the boat is formed upon the rearward and downward curve 11to a point 12 below the water line aa when the boat is riding upon thesurface and thence downwardly and forwardly curved, as at 13.

Any suitable form of propulsion may be employed, but as the presentinvention does not pertain to any particular means of propulsion it isthought unnecessary to go thereinto in detail.

In order to change the center of gravity for diving or rising or for anyother position, I providea shiftableballast disposed entirely within thehull,- at the bottom thereof and preferably along the longitudinalcenter, as seen in Fig; 2. For this purpose I provide tracks 1% of anysuitable character atliXed in position in any preferred way and uponthese tracks I mount to travel a carriage 15 having wheels 16 runningupon the traclrs and in this carriage may e placed ballast l"? which maybe of any suitable ma terial or character. By shifting this ballasttoward the bow or tow: d the stern, as occasio'n may require. I can easiy and quickly and positively change the center of gravity and thuschange angle of the boat. This carriage may be operated and co trolledin any suitable manner. lin the present instance l have shown a wire orcable or the like 1,8 attached at one end to one end of the carriage, asseen at 19, and at the other end to the other end of the carriage asseen at 2 0 in Figs. 1 and 3. This cable passes over pulleys 21 and 22at opposite ends of a platform or support 23 provided within the hull,as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and the opposite ends of the cable are woundin opposite directions upon a drum 2% operated in any suitable mannerfrom an engine or motor 25 mounted on said platform and operativelyconnected with the shaft or drum through the medium of the belt 26 andgearing 27 which may be of any well-known character. The carriage may bemoved forward or backward, its movements being perfectly un der thecontrol of the operator in a wellknown way, and the carriage will bepositively held in its adjusted position.

The dash lines in Fig. 1 indicate the relative angles when the boat isrising or going down or traveling on a substantially horizontal course,these different positions or angles being determined by the positionCopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe that may be encountered while the boat is in motion.

Modifications. in details may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

WV hat is claimed as new is 1. A submarine boat having a transverselycurved lower surface and a flat upper surface extending t om its widestpoint to the bow and downwardly at an angle to the longitudinal axis ofthe boat combined with bodily shiftable means within the hull bodilymovable fore and aft for shifting the center. of gravity to vary thevertical component of the water resistance on said flat upper surface ofthe boat and thus control its Vertical position.

2. A submarine boat having a transversely curved lower surface and aflat upper sur face extending from its widest portion at the conningtower to the bow and down wardly at an angle to the longitudinal axis ofthe boat, a carriage mounted for move 111611o bodily fore and aft withinthe hull at an angle to said upper surface to shift the center ofgravity, means disposed in alinement with said carriage and operativelyconnected with the. opposite ends thereof near the bottom of the hull,and means for moving the same and holding the carriage in its adjustedpositions;

In testimony whereof. I afliX my signature in. the presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD B. REILLY.

Witnesses lVM. C. Frsrrnn, 'Jnssn H. STEWART.

Commissioner of ?atents,

Washington, DAL

